'Bad Beard' bank bandit pleads guilty

Thursday

Sep 12, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 13, 2013 at 9:55 AM

A South Side man sometimes called the "Bad Beard Bandit" pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to eight counts of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery. Kenneth J. Horsley, 55, of S. High Street, admitted robbing seven banks in Worthington, Dublin, Columbus and Beavercreek near Dayton between June 5, 2012, and Feb. 5.

Jeb Phillips, The Columbus Dispatch

A South Side man sometimes called the “Bad Beard Bandit” pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to eight counts of bank robbery and attempted bank robbery.

He stole about $32,000 in all, court records said. In at least three robberies, he showed a gun.

He tried to rob the Chase Bank branch at 3655 N. High St. in Clintonville on March 15 but left because he thought the tellers were taking too long to hand over money, Assistant U.S. Attorney David DeVillers said. Horsley was wearing, as usual, a fake beard, according to court records.

Columbus police arrested him that day after someone called in to report that a suspicious man was pacing near a PNC drive-through at 4550 N. High St.

When cruisers arrived, Horsley drove away. He crashed and ran, but a police dog caught him.

Horsley told investigators that he had learned to disguise his appearance by watching Mission: Impossible.

He said in court yesterday that he took medication for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and anti-social disorder.

His guilty plea was part of a binding deal with prosecutors that would have him serve 10 years in prison. The maximum sentence for the offenses is more than 150 years.

U.S. District Judge Edmund A. Sargus said he will wait for a presentencing report before accepting the plea agreement.